Setting

When considering brain-friendly teaching, it is important to think about the physical as well as the emotional setting in your classroom.

Physical

• Your classroom’s Physical Setting is a very important part of the learning experience. Keep in mind that as students are processing new information, their brains are pairing that data with the walls, desks, overhead, chalkboards, and even the clothes that you are wearing.
• Special Education – When the time comes to give assessments, our first thought is to give our Special Education students the opportunity to take the big test in a different room with an instructional assistant to either read the test or provide dictation. With regards to the special education student’s ability to recall information, this may be a disservice rather than an accommodation. With the change of venue also comes a removal from the visual cues that students may have associated with learning.

Emotional

• The Emotional Setting of the classroom is equally as important as the Physical Setting. When students feel threatened or upset they will most likely suffer from impaired memory and a weakened ability to prioritize. It is important for students to feel comfortable, happy, and accepted in your classroom.

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For the Classroom

Physical

• Set up your room in such a way that students take ownership and have pride in the classroom. If space permits, have a section of bulletin board that is just for them, where they can hang up artwork or check to see what is on the lunch menu.
• Many state tests require that we remove posters and bulletin boards with information that might compromise the validity of the assessment. While this is very important, it is just as important to consider the timing of this action. Remove the materials at least a week before the test. Therefore, while reviewing for the test, students will not inadvertently fix visual cues with the posters and other materials that are now absent.

Emotional

• Greet your students at the door at the beginning of class. This is one of the strongest ways to show a student that you are happy to have them in your classroom and that you care about their education. Although we can think of dozens of excuses why we just can’t make it to the door, the benefit of getting that extra paper graded will never outweigh what you and your students will gain by this simple gesture.
• Be sincere! Don’t have the same greeting for each child. Notice a new shirt, haircut, or just ask how they are doing. This is a great way of heading off potential problems as well.
• Science is great because you could be holding a piece of equipment or specimen that is related to that day’s lesson while greeting students. This will help focus them even before setting foot in your class.
• Take a little time at the beginning of class to try to get everyone into a positive state of mind. This could be a quick joke, cartoon or a brain break (see give your brain a boost for more information on brain breaks.)

Introduction

Learning Styles

Time to Learn

Setting

Give Your Brain A Boost

5 E Lesson Plan

References

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